Recording medium for storing version information for maintaining recording and/or reproducing compatability, and method and apparatus for managing the same

ABSTRACT

A method of recording read/write compatibility information on an optical disc and a recording medium employing the method. Extended part version information, latest part version having recording capability, and latest part version having reproducing capability are stored in n.xy form on 6 bytes of a reserved zone of a physical format information zone of the optical disc. A recording/reproducing apparatus to record extended part version information on a reserved zone of a physical format information zone of a recording medium. The recording/reproducing apparatus has a base part version and a comparing unit to determine recording/reproducing compatibility with a recording medium having a detailed extended part version stored in a reserved zone of a physical format information zone.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/650,858,filed Aug. 29, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,046,605, and claims the benefitof U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/214,452, filed Jun. 28, 2000, thedisclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an optical recording medium andrecording/reproducing from the optical recording medium, and moreparticularly, to an optical recording medium for storing part versioninformation for determining whether or not recording compatibilityand/or reproducing compatibility can be maintained when data is recordedand updated on/reproduced from the optical recording medium, and amethod and apparatus for managing the part version information.

2. Description of the Related Art

A recording/reproducing apparatus and a recording medium comply with aspecification set at any given time, but due to the addition of newfunctions, and improvements in the performance of functions, thespecification changes. The specification is changed in order to maintaincompatibility with existing recording/reproducing apparatuses orrecording media, but in some cases, partial compatibility is lost inorder to extend functions or improve performance.

In general, a recording medium (such as an optical disc), which complieswith specifications has areas for storing a variety of information whichrepresent the physical/logical structure and characteristics of therecording medium, and such information includes information onallocation on the physical recording medium, information onrecording/reproducing characteristics, information for managing defects,information on the organization of logical recording spaces, etc.

A control information zone which records this information not only has azone for recording this information, but also a reserved zone, whichenables the addition of information related to characteristics of therecording medium or recording/reproducing apparatus in accordance withnewly appearing functions or improvement in performance.

However, when a specification is revised due to these additionalfunctions and improvements, compatibility may not be maintained.Furthermore, handling newly added information in an existing recordingmedium and recording/reproducing apparatus becomes another problem.

In order to solve these problems, the digital versatile disc (DVD)specification makes it a rule to record part version information on adisc. As shown in FIG. 1, this information is recorded in the first bytein the physical format information of a control data block in thelead-in zone of the disc.

FIG. 1 illustrates part version information of the existing DVD. Anordinary DVD has a lead-in zone which is a data zone for helpingrecording/reproducing in the starting part of a disc. This lead-in zonehas a control data block zone which can record control information. Thiscontrol data block zone is again divided into a physical formatinformation zone, a disc manufacturer information zone, and a contentsprovider information zone.

In the existing digital versatile disc-read only memory (DVD-ROM),digital versatile disc-random access memory (DVD-RAM), etc., partversion information is recorded in BP0, the first byte in the physicalformat information zone as shown in FIG. 1. The first byte BP0 isdivided into two 4-bit pieces of information, one for book type, whichindicates the type of a specification book, and the other for a partversion, which indicates the part version of a specification book. Adisadvantage of this arrangement is that only 4 bits can be used inexpressing all part versions, thus only limited versions can beexpressed. That is, 4 bits can represent only 16 different part versionswhich are presented in the form of n.x.

Meanwhile, when a disc which can record/update or reproduce data isinstalled in a recording/reproducing apparatus, the part version in aphysical format information zone is read and then it is determinedwhether or not the part version can be recorded/updated or reproduced inthe recording/reproducing apparatus. Such a determination can be madebecause the drive of the apparatus has the part version which was a basein designing the recording/reproducing apparatus, and the drive also hasinformation on part versions that have compatibility with therecording/reproducing apparatus (among all part versions that had beenknown until the recording/reproducing apparatus was made).

This arrangement is disadvantageous because the part version shown inFIG. 1 only contains part versions that had been in existence at thetime the corresponding recording medium was made, and therefore may notbe compatible with part versions revised after the time ofmanufacturing.

The same holds true for information on the physical format informationzone. When new data is recorded (due to revision) in a reserved zone, orthe physical format information zone, it is unclear whether therecording/reproducing apparatus will be compatible with the revisedspecification.

In a normal reproduction-dedicated disc, no fatal errors (such aserasing recorded information) will occur when it is determined that azone is a physical format information zone reserved by the specificationat the time of designing the reproducing apparatus. Therefore, a methodis used which ignores reserved physical formation information and thelike. This is done to minimize booting time for reading or writing in arecording medium at initialization. Also, even when certain data existsin the zone, the reproducing apparatus cannot determine what operationsto perform.

However, ignoring information in the reserved zones can cause problems.When the information in the physical format information zone (determinedto be a reserved zone by the specification of a disc) defines othercharacteristics of recording/reproducing, the difference betweencharacteristics in recording/reproducing can cause the recordation ofwrong information, the loss of recorded information, updating failure,or loss of existing recorded information.

For example, when recording prevention information for data is recordedin a reserved physical format information zone, a recording/reproducingapparatus having a previous specification cannot recognize thisrecording prevention information, and therefore, recorded data can beerased or updated even when the user sets a protection mode by usingrecording prevention information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide arecording medium for storing extended version information to determinein a recording/reproducing apparatus whether or not recording/updatingor reproducing can be performed on the recording medium which is made incompliance with a newly revised specification.

It is another object to provide a recording medium for storing thelatest part version that can maintain recording/updating compatibilityand the latest part version that can maintain reproducing compatibility,when part versions are recorded so that a recording medium having anupdated specification can correctly record/update or reproduce data in arecording/reproducing apparatus having an existing specification.

It is another object to provide a managing method for correctlyoperating a recording/reproducing apparatus without damaging user dataor without reproducing wrong information, making therecording/reproducing apparatus determine whether or not a recordingmedium for recording/updating or reproducing can be handled withcompatibility, using extended part version information recorded on therecording medium.

It is another object to provide a managing method for reducing time inreading and writing data on a recording medium by processing thereserved zone in a control information zone, based upon extended partversion information recorded on the recording medium.

It is another object to provide an apparatus for recording/reproducingwithout damaging user data or without reproducing wrong information bydetermining whether or not a recording medium for recording/updating orreproducing can be handled with compatibility, using extended partversion information.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth inpart in the description which follows, and, in part, will be obviousfrom the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

The foregoing objects of the present invention are achieved by providinga method of recording compatibility information on a recording medium,comprising providing a physical format information zone having areserved zone, and recording extended part version information in thereserved zone of the physical format information zone. The extended partversion information comprises a detailed extended part version, a latestpart version having recording compatibility, and a latest part versionhaving reproducing compatibility. The detailed extended part version,latest part version having recording compatibility, and latest partversion having reproducing compatibility are in the form n.xy.

The above objects of the present invention may also be achieved with arecording medium comprising a physical format information zone having areserved zone and extended part version information in the reservedzone. This extended part version information comprises a detailedextended part version, a latest part version having recordingcompatibility, and a latest part version having reproducingcompatibility, all recorded in the form n.xy. The reserved zone is 6bytes in size, and the detailed extended part version, latest partversion having recording compatibility, and latest part version havingreproducing compatibility are each 2 bytes in size.

The above objects of the present invention may also be achieved with amethod of determining compatibility between a recording medium and arecording/reproducing apparatus, comprising installing the recordingmedium in the recording/reproducing apparatus, comparing a base partversion of the recording/reproducing apparatus with a detailed extendedpart version stored in a reserved zone of a physical format informationzone of the recording medium, and determining recording compatibilitybased upon comparing the base part version with the detailed extendedpart version. This method further comprises comparing the base partversion with a latest part version having a recording compatibility, inorder to determine the recording compatibility. This method furthercomprises comparing the base part version with a latest part versionhaving a reproducing compatibility, to determine the reproducingcompatibility.

The above objects of the present invention may also be achieved with arecording/reproducing apparatus, comprising a control means to recordextended part version information on a reserved zone of a physicalformat information zone of a recording medium.

The above objects of the present invention may also be achieved with arecording/reproducing apparatus having a base part version that receivesa recording medium having a detailed extended part version stored in areserved zone of a physical format information zone. A comparing unitcompares the base part version with the detailed extended part versionin the reserved zone of the recording medium to determine recording andreproducing compatibility between the recording medium and therecording/reproducing apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent and more readily appreciated from the following description ofthe preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings of which:

FIG. 1 illustrates part version information in the existing digitalversatile discs (DVD);

FIG. 2 illustrates part version information for maintaining recordingand/or reproducing compatibility according to the present invention;

FIG. 3A illustrates the reading and writing compatibility between a discin which part version information is recorded by the existing method,and a drive for determining the part version information;

FIG. 3B illustrates the reading and writing compatibility between adisc, in which part version information for maintaining recording and/orreproducing compatibility according to the present invention isrecorded, and a drive for determining the part version information;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an optical recording/reproducing apparatusto which the present invention is applied; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a method of managing partversion information for maintaining recording/reproducing compatibilityaccording to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferredembodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustratedin the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer tolike elements throughout.

FIG. 2 illustrates part version information for maintaining recordingand/or reproducing compatibility according to the present invention.

In order to solve the problem that the 4 bits in the physical formatinformation zone of FIG. 1 are not enough to express all part versions,part values may also be defined in other locations. The value of these 4bits indicates that the part version is defined in another location,namely the location of an extended part version shown in FIG. 2.

By using data in a reserved zone that is not used in the existingphysical format information zone, extended part version information isrecorded. An extended part version includes:

-   -   1) a detailed extended part version;    -   2) the latest part version having recording (write)        compatibility; and    -   3) the latest part version having reproducing (read)        compatibility.

The marking method of a part version according to the present inventionuses 6-byte reserved bytes that are not used in a zone for recordingphysical format information in the existing DVD specification. Adetailed extended part version is recorded on the first two reservedbytes (RBP0, RBP1), which correspond to BP17, BP 18 of the physicalformat information zone. Within these bytes, the highest 4 bits (b12-15)are allotted as reserved bits. In the next 4 bits (b8-b11), the integerpart of the part version is written in hexadecimal numbers, and in thenext 4 bits (b4-b7), the first decimal place of the part version iswritten in hexadecimal numbers. In the lowest 4 bits (b0-b3), the seconddecimal place of the part version is written in hexadecimal numbers. Theadvantage of this marking method is that more detailed specificationscan be marked compared to the existing 4-bit marking method.

The latest part version having recording (write) compatibility iswritten in RBP2 and RBP3, and the latest part version having reproducing(read) compatibility is written in RBP4 and RBP5, both using the samemarking method. (Reserved byte positions RB2-RB5 correspond to BP19-BP22of the physical format information zone).

As an example of a specification expressed according to this markingmethod, part version 2.03 is expressed in hexadecimal ‘0203h’.Therefore, while the existing method expresses a part version in theform of n.x, the present invention expresses an extended part versionn.xy. Here, n represents a specification change, x represents aspecification change having no compatibility, and y represents a minorchange having recording/reproducing compatibility, for example, theaddition of an additional function. In FIG. 2, a new part version isdefined, including an extended part version, the latest part versionhaving reproducing compatibility, and the latest part version havingrecording compatibility. However, the present invention permits manyvariations, for example, a part version having only an extended partversion, and no latest part version reproducing or latest part versionrecording information.

In order to assure compliance with changing industry specifications,b0-b15 are set to ‘0000h’ if a part version extension is not available,or does not contain any functional change. If the second decimal placeis not available, or does not contain any functional change, then b0-b3are set to ‘1111h’. This will keep the disc within specification if theindustry format book changes in the future.

For information on the newly defined part version, the reserved zonethat is not used in the physical format information zone can be used.For example, the 6 bytes from the 17th byte to the 22nd byte in thephysical format information zone can be used. Thus, RBP0 in FIG. 2corresponds to BP17 of the physical format information zone, RBP1corresponds to BP18, etc.

The latest part version having recording compatibility indicates thatthe corresponding recording medium, which was manufactured based uponthe specification defined in an extended part version, can record andupdate data, maintaining compatibility with a recording/reproducingapparatus, which was manufactured based upon the latest part versionhaving recording compatibility.

The latest part version having reproducing compatibility indicates thatthe corresponding recording medium, which was manufactured based uponthe specification defined in an extended part version, can correctlyread recorded data, maintaining compatibility with arecording/reproducing apparatus, which was manufactured based upon thelatest part version having reproducing compatibility.

Therefore, when a recording medium having an arbitrary part version isinstalled in a recording/reproducing apparatus which was manufacturedbased upon a specification having a predetermined part version, theapparatus operates based upon the part version which was a base of therecording/reproducing apparatus, the detailed part version of therecording medium, the latest part version having recordingcompatibility, and the latest part version having reproducingcompatibility.

That is, when the base part version of the recording/reproducingapparatus is a version prior to the latest part version having recordingcompatibility, writing is prohibited to prevent damaging data or errors.When the base part version of the recording/reproducing apparatus camelater than the latest part version having recording compatibility withthe recording medium, recording and updating can be performed.

The same operation applies with respect to determining reproducingcompatibility.

FIG. 3A illustrates the reading and writing compatibility between adisc, in which part version information is recorded by the existingmethod, and a drive for determining the part version information. FIG.3B illustrates this same reading and writing compatibility when the partversion information is recorded according to the present invention. Thatis, in the prior art, when a disc 1 with part version 2.0 is installedin a drive 3 with part version 2.0, reproducing (reading) and recording(writing) data on/from the disc 1 can be performed. However, when thedisc 2 with part version 2.3 is installed in drive 3 with part version2.0, it is unclear whether or not the recording medium has compatibilitywith the drive.

However, as shown in FIG. 3B, in the present invention, when a disc 11with extended part version 2.0, a latest reproducing (read) compatiblepart version of 1.9, and a latest recording (write) compatible partversion of 1.9, is installed in a drive 13 with part version 2.0, or ina drive 14 with part version 1.9, it is clear that reproducing andrecording data on/from the disc 11 can be performed. Furthermore, when adisc 12 with extended part version 2.3, whose latest part version havingreproducing compatibility is 1.9, and whose latest part version havingrecording compatibility is 2.0 is installed in the drive 13 whose partversion is 2.0, it is clear that recording and reproducing data on/fromthe disc 12 can be performed, while the disc 12 is installed in thedrive 14 whose part version is 1.9, it is clear that reproducing datafrom the disc 12 can be performed but recording data on the disc 12cannot be performed.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an audio/video (A/V) datarecording/reproducing apparatus 170 to implement the present invention.The function of the apparatus can be divided into recording andreproducing. Also, a recording medium according to the present inventioncan be designed so that reproducing compatibility can be determined whenthe medium is installed in a reproducing apparatus having only areproducing function.

In recording, an A/V codec and/or host interface 110 compresses andencodes, in a predetermined compression scheme, an A/V signal input fromthe outside, and supplies information on the size of the compresseddata. A digital signal processor (DSP) 120 receives the compressed A/Vdata from the A/V codec and/or host interface 110, adds additional datafor error correction code (ECC) processing, and modulates the data in apredetermined modulation scheme. A high frequency amplifier (referred toas RF AMP) 130 converts the modulated data supplied from the DSP 120into an RF signal. A pick-up unit 140 records the RF signal suppliedfrom the RF AMP 130 onto a disc installed on a turntable. Servo unit 150receives information required for servo control from a system controller160 and stably performs a servo function for the installed disc.

When data stored on the disc is reproduced, the pick-up unit 140 picksup data from the disc in the form of an optical signal, and the data isextracted from the optical signal. The RF AMP 130 converts the opticalsignal into an electrical signal, and extracts a servo signal andmodulated data in order to perform a servo function. The DSP 120demodulates the modulated data supplied from the RF AMP 130 in a schemecorresponding to the modulation scheme which was used in modulation, andperforms ECC to correct errors and to remove additional data. The servounit 150 receives information required for servo control from the RF AMP130 and the system controller 160, and stably performs the servofunction. The A/V codec and/or host interface 110 decodes compressed A/Vdata supplied from the DSP 120 and outputs an A/V signal. The systemcontroller 160, which supplies an interface to a user, controls theentire system.

When the disc is initialized, the system controller 160 generates theextended part version, the latest part version having reproducingcompatibility, and the latest part version having recordingcompatibility with the disc installed in a recording/reproducingapparatus. The system controller 160 then records this information onthe reserved zone of the physical format information zone in the controldata block of the disc through the DSP 120, the RF AMP 130, and thepick-up unit 140.

When data is recorded/updated, the system controller 160 controls therecording operation by determining permission or prohibition ofrecording/updating data, based upon the extended part version and thelatest part version having recording compatibility, and then informs auser of the result of this determination through a user interface (notshown).

Likewise, when data is reproduced, the system controller 160 controlsthe reproducing operation by determining permission or prohibition ofreproducing data, based on the extended part version and the latest partversion having reproducing compatibility, and then informs the user ofthe result of this determination through the user interface.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a method of managing partversion information for maintaining recording/reproducing compatibilityaccording to the present invention.

In step S1, a recording medium (a disc) is installed in arecording/reproducing apparatus. In step S2, the base part version atthe time of manufacturing of the recording/reproducing apparatus iscompared with the extended part version stored in the physical formatinformation zone of the recording medium. In step S3, it is determinedwhether or not the comparison in step S2 indicates that the partversions have recording compatibility. When the base part version of therecording/reproducing apparatus is equal to or later than the latestpart version having recording compatibility stored in the recordingmedium, recording/updating/reproducing operations are permitted in stepS4. When the result of step S3 indicates that the base part version hasno recording compatibility, it is determined whether or not the basepart version has reproducing compatibility in step S5. When the basepart version of the recording/reproducing apparatus is equal to or laterthan the latest part version having reproducing compatibility in therecording medium, only a reproducing operation is permitted in step S6.At this point, a step may be added in which a user is informed thatrecording cannot be performed.

When the result of S5 indicates the base part version has neitherrecording compatibility nor reproducing compatibility,recording/reproducing operations are prohibited in step S7. At thispoint, a step may be added in which a user is informed thatrecording/reproducing cannot be performed.

Though the embodiments related to a DVD-ROM and a DVD-RAM are explainedabove, the present invention can be applied to the specifications of allDVDs that can record or reproduce data.

As described above, the present invention maintains compatibility withthe method for managing part version defined in the current DVDspecifications, and safely ignores information in a reserved zone in acontrol information zone which a recording/reproducing apparatus cannotread. By doing so, the present invention reduces booting time betweenthe first action of a disc in a recording/reproducing apparatus, and thetime when the recording/reproducing apparatus starts to read or writedata.

Also, the present invention enables accurate determination ofcompatibility between a recording/reproducing apparatus having aprevious part version and a recording medium having a new part version.This maximizes recording/reproducing compatibility between arecording/reproducing apparatus and a recording medium.

Although a few preferred embodiments of the present invention have beenshown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the artthat changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from theprinciples and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined inthe claims and their equivalents.

1. A method of recording compatibility information on a recordingmedium, comprising: providing a physical format information zone havinga reserved zone and an unreserved zone on the recording medium;recording extended part version information in the reserved zone andrecording non-extended part version information in the unreserved zone,wherein said non-extended part version information indicates that theextended part version information is recorded in the reserved zone. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein the recording of the extended partversion information further comprises recording a detailed extended partversion in the reserved zone.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein therecording of the extended part version information further comprisesrecording a latest part version having recording compatibility with arecording/reproducing apparatus of a given specification level in thereserved zone.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the recording of theextended part version information further comprises recording a latestpart version having reproducing compatibility with therecording/reproducing apparatus in the reserved zone.
 5. The method ofclaim 4, wherein the recording of the detailed extended part version,the recording of the latest part version having recording compatibilitywith the recording/reproducing apparatus, and the recording of thelatest part version having reproducing compatibility with therecording/reproducing apparatus, each further comprise recording aninteger part and a first decimal place in the reserved zone.
 6. Themethod of claim 5, wherein the recording of the detailed extended partversion, the recording of the latest part version having recordingcompatibility with the recording/reproducing apparatus, and therecording of the latest part version having reproducing compatibilitywith the recording/reproducing apparatus each further comprise recordinga second decimal place immediately after the first decimal place.
 7. Themethod of claim 6, further comprising recording said integer part, saidfirst decimal place, and said second decimal place in the form of n.xy.8. A method of recording compatibility information on a recordingmedium, comprising: providing a physical format information zone havinga reserved zone on the recording medium; and recording extended partversion information in the reserved zone of the physical formatinformation zone in the form of n.xy, wherein: n represents aspecification change, x represents a specification change having nocompatibility with the recording/reproducing apparatus, and y representsa minor change having recording/reproducing compatibility with therecording/reproducing apparatus.
 9. The method of claim 8, furthercomprising recording non-extended part version information in anunreserved zone of the physical format information zone, wherein saidnon-extended part version information indicates that the extended partversion information is recorded in a different location.
 10. A recordingmedium comprising: a physical format information zone having a partversion zone and a reserved zone separate from the part version zone;extended part version information in the reserved zone of the physicalformat information zone; and a value recorded in the part version zonewhich indicates that the extended part version information is recordedin the reserved zone.
 11. The recording medium of claim 10, wherein saidextended part version information further comprises a detailed extendedpart version.
 12. The recording medium of claim 11 wherein said extendedpart version information further comprises a latest part version havingrecording compatibility with a recording/reproducing apparatus of agiven specification level.
 13. The recording medium of claim 12, whereinsaid extended part version information further comprises a latest partversion having reproducing compatibility with the recording/reproducingapparatus.
 14. The recording medium of claim 13, wherein said detailedextended part version, said latest part version having recordingcompatibility with the recording/reproducing apparatus, and said latestpart version having reproducing compatibility with therecording/reproducing apparatus each further comprise an integer partand a first decimal place.
 15. The recording medium of claim 14, whereinsaid detailed extended part version, said latest part version havingrecording compatibility with the recording/reproducing apparatus, andsaid latest part version having reproducing compatibility with therecording/reproducing apparatus each further comprise a second decimalplace immediately after said first decimal place.
 16. The recordingmedium of claim 15, wherein said integer part, said first decimal placeand said second decimal place are in the format n.xy.
 17. An opticaldisc having part version information and extended part versioninformation separately stored thereon, wherein: the extended partversion information is used to determine in a recording/reproducingapparatus whether recording/updating or reproducing can be performed onthe recording medium which is made in compliance with a newly revisedspecification; and the stored part version information indicates alocation where the extended part version information is stored.
 18. Arecording medium having an updated specification which maintainsrecording/updating compatibility with a recording/reproducing apparatus,said recording medium further comprising: a latest part version whichmaintains reproducing compatibility with said recording/reproducingapparatus, wherein said part version is recorded on said recordingmedium having an updated specification such that data isrecordable/updatable or reproducible by a recording/reproducingapparatus having an existing specification; and a part version valuestored separately from said latest part version, the part version valueindicating a storage location of the latest part version.
 19. Arecording medium comprising: a physical format information zone having areserved zone; and extended part version information in the reservedzone of said physical format information zone, said extended partinformation having a format n.xy, wherein n represents a specificationchange, x represents a specification change having no compatibility witha recording/reproducing apparatus, and y represents a minor changehaving recording/reproducing compatibility with therecording/reproducing apparatus.